Immigration Officers: New Powers

Lord Gladwin of Clee: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What arrangements they have made to ensure that immigration officers exercising the new powers of search, entry and seizure in Part VII of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 will have regard to the codes of practice issued under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: The new powers of entry, search and seizure will come into force on 14 February 2000. In accordance with Section 145 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, a Direction has been made which will ensure that immigration officers exercising these powers, and their existing powers of arrest under Schedule 2 of the Immigration Act 1971, must have regard to the relevant provisions of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 codes of practice. A copy of the Direction is being placed in the Library. It is also being sent to members of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) User Panel and will be made available more widely via the IND website.
	The use of the new powers will be restricted initially to a team of immigration officers involved in a joint pilot scheme with the Metropolitan Police. This pilot scheme will enable the powers to be tested in the operational arena before more widespread use of the powers is considered.

British Citizenship: Full Capacity Requirement

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will publish the report of the review by the Immigration and Nationality Policy Directorate of the full capacity requirement both for renunciation of British citizenship and applications for it under the British Nationality Act 1981; and whether they will consult organisations concerned with mental health on the need for any changes to the law or regulations, before deciding finally on any such changes.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: The review is continuing and we shall consult relevant organisations in the course of it.

Racism and Children's Resources

Lord Tebbit: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Working Group Against Racism in Children's Resources is financed by public money.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: We know of no such group.

Sexual Offenders Serving Custodial Sentences

Lord Dholakia: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many men and women respectively were serving custodial sentences for sexual offences in June 1998 and June 1999.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: The information requested is given in the table. Information on persons serving custodial sentences for sexual offences up to 1998 is published in successive volumes of Prison statistics England and Wales (tables 1.5, 3.1 and 4.1 of the 1998 edition, column 4430), copies of which are in the Library.
	
		Population in prisons in England and Wales under sentence for sexual offences on 30 June 1998 and 30 June 1999
		
			  30 June 1998 30 June 19991 
			 Offence Males Females Males Females 
			 All sexual offences 4,779 16 4,838 16 
		
	
	1Provisional figures.

Sexual Offenders Serving Custodial Sentences

Lord Dholakia: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many sex offenders are currently serving determinate custodial sentences imposed before 1 October 1992.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: The latest available information is for 31 December 1999. On that date there were 24 persons in prisons in England and Wales serving sentences for sexual offences who were sentenced before 1 October 1992.

Sexual Offences: Convictions in 1998

Lord Dholakia: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many people were, respectively, convicted and cautioned for (a) indictable sexual offences and (b) non-indictable sexual offences in 1998.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: Available information for 1998 is given in the tables.
	
		Table A--Number of offenders convicted at all courts or cautioned for sexual offences by type of offence, England and Wales, 1998
		
			 Type of offence Convicted Cautioned 
			 Indictable only 929 101 
			 Triable either-way 3,596 1,613 
			 Summary1 7,209 3,875 
		
	
	1 Includes brothel keeping, indecent exposure, kerb crawling and offences by prostitutes.
	
		Table B--Number of offenders convicted at the Crown Court for sexual offences 1 by type of offence, Northern Ireland, 1998
		
			 Type of offence Convicted 
			 Indictable only 79 
			 Non-indictable -- 
		
	
	1 Figures relate only to the principal offence.
	
		Table C--Persons with a charge proved where the main offence was a crime of indecency1 in Scotland, 1998
		
			 Court Procedure Number of persons with a charge proved 
			 Solemn 225 
			 Summary 313 
		
	
	1Excluding indecent exposure, brothel keeping, immoral traffic and offences related to prostitution.

Press Activity and Court Cases

Lord Stone of Blackheath: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	In the light of the recent trial involving Gary Glitter, what steps they propose to take to implement the recommendations made by the National Heritage Committee in their Report on Press Activity affecting Court Cases.

Lord Irvine of Lairg: The Government announced on 27 February 1998 that they accepted in principle the recommendations of the National Heritage Select Committee. As I said in the House on 22 November, Official Report, col. 169, legislation will be brought forward when parliamentary time allows. I am setting up an inter-departmental working group of officials to review the law relating to the payments to witnesses in criminal proceedings and the publication of information in advance of criminal trials. The review will inform the Government's decisions about the form of legislation required to implement the National Heritage Committee's recommendations. The review will consider how the requirements of the European Convention on Human Rights affect the law of contempt.

Statistics: Concordat

The Earl of Northesk: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the concordat on statistics between the United Kingdom administrations has been agreed; and, if not, when agreement on it is likely to be reached.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Director of the Office for National Statistics, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter to the Earl of Northesk from the Director of the Office for National Statistics, Dr T Holt, dated 9 February 2000.
	As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary Question on the concordat on statistics between the United Kingdom administrations.
	A concordat on statistics was included in the Memorandum of Understanding and supplementary agreements between the United Kingdom Government, Scottish Ministers and the Cabinet of the National Assembly for Wales which was laid before the House in October 1999 (Cm 4444).

2001 Census

The Earl of Northesk: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	To what extent, if at all, they intend that the Census Statistician and Statistics Commission will have responsibility for the 2001 Census; and
	Whether, to the extent that responsibility for the 2001 Census is transferred to the National Statistician and the Statistics Commission, adequate funding will be made available for this purpose over and above the provision that has been made for setting up this new arrangement in the Comprehensive Spending Review.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Director of the Office for National Statistics, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter to the Earl of Northesk from the Director of the Office for National Statistics, Dr T Holt, dated 9 February 2000
	As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary Questions on the responsibilities of the National Statistician and the Statistical Commission for the 2001 Census, and the effect that these arrangements will have on funding. Responsibilities
	The 2001 Census in England and Wales is the responsibility of the Registrar General for England and Wales, who is also the Director of the Office for National Statistics. These responsibilities will transfer to the National Statistician on his or her appointment.
	The Census in Scotland is the responsibility of the Registrar General for Scotland, who reports to the Scottish Executive; the Census in Northern Ireland is the responsibility of the Registrar General for Northern Ireland, who reports to the Northern Ireland Assembly. These arrangements are consistent with the responsibilities of the devolved administrations.
	The strategic issues and business planning of the Census in England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are co-ordinated by the United Kingdom Census Committee.
	The National Statistician will have the responsibility to fulfil United Kingdom obligations to provide results of the Census to the European Union.
	The Statistics Commission will be an independent non-executive body; as such it will have no direct responsibility for producing outputs or conducting the Census. Its duties will include commenting and advising Ministers on the quality of National Statistics. As with all National Statistics, Census outputs included within the scope of National Statistics will be subject to scrutiny by the Commission. Funding Arrangements
	Funding for conducting the 2001 Census and setting up the Statistics Commission was agreed in the last Comprehensive Spending Review.
	The White Paper on National Statistics sets out that the Commission will advise Ministers on its own machinery for covering the interests of users and producers of National Statistics within its first six months--including the arrangements for taking account of country/region and subject matter dimensions.

UK/EU Balance of Contributions

Lord Swinfen: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How much the United Kingdom has contributed to the European Union each year since joining in 1972; how much the European Union has returned to the United Kingdom; and what was the net total of both sums.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The United Kingdom became a member of the European Community in 1973. Details of gross contributions, abatement, public sector receipts and net contributions for the period 1973-74 to 1997-98 can be obtained from various departmental reports of the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Departments or, previously, Government Expenditure Plans. The net contribution figure for 1998-99 was published in the footnote to Table B12 of the pre-Budget Report (Cm 4479).

Britain in Europe

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they finance in any way the Britain in Europe organisation; and whether any government subsidy is provided to organisations campaigning for the United Kingdom to join the single currency or further European economic and political integration.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: No.

House of Lords: Political Balance

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they consider that the political balance of the second Chamber of the Parliament of Westminster should match the proportion of votes cast at the previous general election.

Baroness Jay of Paddington: The Government set out in their manifesto the broad principle which we believe should govern the appointment of life Peers, which was that over time their balance should more accurately reflect the balance of votes cast at the previous general election. In the White Paper Modernising Parliament Reforming the House of Lords (Cm 4183 January 1999) we said that our intention in relation to the transitional House was to move toward broad parity between Labour and Conservative. We also said that the principle of broad parity and proportionate creations for other parties would be maintained throughout the transitional period. Our most important principle with regard to membership of the House of Lords is that no party should seek a majority of members.

Human Rights Joint Committee: Impartiality

Lord Alton of Liverpool: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What steps are being or will be taken to ensure that human rights issues will not be subordinated to party political considerations by the proposed Joint Committee on Human Rights.

Baroness Jay of Paddington: The Government do not have a majority on the Select Committees of this House, and Select Committees in the Commons are appointed in proportion to party representation in that House.
	Joint Committees and Select Committees in both Houses have long had a reputation for political impartiality; there is no reason to believe that the Joint Committee for Human Rights will not work in that tradition.

Millennium Dome: Costs

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the total cost to date to the taxpayer of the Millennium Dome and all works directly associated with it at the Greenwich site.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The Millennium Dome at Greenwich and its contents are being paid for partly out of Lottery funds and partly by private sector sponsorship, commercial income and visitor revenue--not from tax revenues. English Partnerships, the Government's urban regeneration agency for England, which owns the land on which the Dome is sited and which is grant aided by the Exchequer, through the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions has incurred £15.53 million in costs in respect of works directly associated with preparing the site for the Millennium Dome, north of the Jubilee Line and North Greenwich Transport Interchange. These works have consisted of the remediation of the site together with the provision of roads, footpaths, services, landscaping, river wall works and associated fees.

Task Forces and Review Groups: External Members

Lord Smith of Clifton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	On which task forces, policy reviews and similar advisory bodies, external (that is, non-Civil Service and non-ministerial) members were serving on 1 January; and for each of these bodies:
	(a) on which date they were set up; and
	(b) on which date they are expected to report.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: My answers to the noble Lord, the Lord Roberts of Conwy on 11 November [Official Report, cols. WA 245-248], and 1 February [Official Report, col. WA 20] provided details of all task forces, review groups and other ad hoc advisory groups with external members established since May 1997. The lists provide a breakdown of membership, remit, reports published and dates bodies wound up, where appropriate. These lists will be updated and published every six months. I am not prepared, on grounds of cost effectiveness, to commission further work outside these six-monthly periods.

Millennium Dome: Web Poll

The Earl of Northesk: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they intend to take any measures to respond to and address the tenor of opinion expressed on the website www.domevote.co.uk.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: Within the New Millennium Experience Company's (NMEC) marketing strategy there is a rolling programme of promotions which highlight the many positive aspects of the New Millennium Experience both nationally and regionally. The company also promotes the positive reactions from the "exit polls" of the majority of visitors to the Dome. Where there are serious factual errors in media reports, NMEC seeks to corrrect them. In addition, the Millennium Experience has its own website www.dome2000.co.uk, from which people can obtain information--both promotional and factual.

China: Falun Gong

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will ask the United Nations Rapporteur on Religious Intolerance to conduct an urgent assessment of the persecution of the Falun Gong in China, so that an informed discussion of the problem can take place at the forthcoming meeting of the Human Rights Commission in Geneva; if not, what other courses they are pursuing, in upholding the rights of Falun Gong members to carry on their peaceful activities, and, in particular, what steps they are taking to ensure that the freedom of the Falun Gong is upheld in Hong Kong.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: We have been concernd about the treatment of Falun Gong adherents and leaders since the group was banned by the Chinese authorities in July 1999, including reports of excessive sentencing of 32 adherents in a mass trial in Beijing on 31 January. This has been raised during ministerial level contacts with Chinese Ministers and through our high level bilateral human rights dialogue. The EU Presidency carried out a demarche on 14 January expressing our concern at the detention and excessive sentencing of political dissidents, and Falun Gong leaders. We will continue to press the Chinese Government for a satisfactory response.
	It is for the United Nations Special Rapporteur himself--as an independent expert--to decide whether he should investigate the case of Falun Gong within the terms of his mandate.
	We note that Falun Gong practitioners have been permitted to hold demonstrations in Hong Kong in accordance with the law even though the organisation has been declared illegal on the mainland. This is in accordance with the "One Country, Two Systems" principle.

"Your Britain, Your Europe" Roadshow

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What the total cost of the "Your Britain, Your Europe" roadshow was; and what proportion of that was covered by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and what proportion was covered by the local authorities of the locations visited.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The overall budget was £60,000 plus travel and accommodation. This was financed entirely by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

British Council, Italy

Viscount Waverley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What has been the percentage decline in real terms of the grant to the British Council in Italy since 1993.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Between 1993-94 and 1998-99 the grant-in-aid to the British Council declined by 13.62 per cent in real terms. However, in the current CSR period, starting this financial year, the council is receiving an uplift (in real terms) of some 2 per cent over the 1998-99 figure in line with the FCO settlement. The British Council determines how it spends the grant-in-aid allocated to it by the FCO. The allocation by the council for Italy over this period has declined by 55 per cent--a reduction resulting from the redirection of resources to other areas, mainly East Asia and Pacific, the expansion of various human rights and governance programmes and the development of IT infrastructure.

British Council, Italy

Viscount Waverley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What they consider to have been the main achievements of the British Council in Italy since 1993.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Since 1993 the British Council has organised seminars for senior civil servants addressing public sector reform, including tertiary education. It has also held a series of international conferences, including the annual bilateral Pontignano conference, for senior public figures.
	The council has introduced new performers and artists to Italy and exhibits regularly at the Venice Biennale.
	The council opened a new Teaching Centre in Turin in 1998; since 1997 it has worked with the Italian Government to improve English teaching in schools.

British Council, Italy

Viscount Waverley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What were the results of the annual post questionnaires in relation to the work of the British Council in Italy since 1993.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The readily available post questionnaires rate the council as making an important contribution to post objectives in 1995-96 to 1997-98 and an essential contribution in 1998-99.

British Council, Italy

Viscount Waverley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What plans they have for the future funding and development of the work of the British Council in Italy.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The future funding and development of the British Council in Italy will depend on the results of the current Spending Review.
	The council plans to continue to engage influential Italians on issues of mutual interest through conferences, etc; to work closely with the Italian Government on teacher training and to encourage the use of British examinations and other services; and to hold a Rome Autumn 2000 festival of dance, literature, music and theatre, to showcase contemporary, multicultural British arts.

Insulin Pen Needles on NHS Prescription

Lord Gladwin of Clee: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they will announce decisions on whether insulin pen needles and reusable insulin injection pens can be prescribed on the National Health Service.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: I have agreed that, with effect from 1 March, insulin pen needles and certain reusable insulin pens should be prescribable by general practitioners on the National Health Service.

Gene Therapy

Lord Alton of Liverpool: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What will be the future conduct of human gene therapy experiments in the United Kingdom following the decisions, arising from the death of an American teenager, of health officials in the United States to end all gene experiments at the Pennsylvania Institute for Human Gene Therapy and to inspect all other American gene therapy centres.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The present system of detailed evaluation of applications to conduct gene therapy clinical trials and the monitoring of safety of ongoing trials by the Medicines Control Agency and the Gene Therapy Advisory Committee (GTAC) will continue.
	GTAC is currently reviewing the 11 existing United Kingdom gene therapy studies involving adenovirus vectors similar to those used in the trial in Pennsylvania. Unlike the Pennsylvania trial, no study active in the UK introduces adenovirus directly into the patient's circulation and doses used in the UK are lower. There have been no reports of unexpected serious side-effects as the result of treatment with any gene therapy product in the UK.

Professor P G Blain

The Countess of Mar: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 25 January (WA 181), why they were not informed by Professor P G Blain, before his appointment to the Organophosphate Working Party of the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment, that from 1994 to date he has been acting as an expert witness for Dundas and Wilson of Edinburgh in the case of Brian Anderson v. Neil Constable; and what action they propose to take.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Professor Blain has not acted as an expert witness for Dundas and Wilson since 1994, four years before the Working Group was established. During the time he served on the Working Group he was not involved in any pending litigation relating to organophosphates.

Arable Area Payments Scheme: Field Margin Measurement

Lord Tebbit: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What effect upon the diversity of animal and plant wildlife they expect consequent upon the change in regulations concerning the Arable Area Payments Scheme by which fields will no longer be measured to the middle of boundary hedges but to the centre line of an assumed hedge of only two metres in width.

Baroness Hayman: Applicants for subsidy under the Arable Area Payments Scheme (AAPS) have recently been notified about guidance from the European Commission concerning the width of field margins. Where a field is fully utilised according to normal practice and field margins do not exceed two metres in width, measured from the recognised Ordnance Survey (OS) boundary (for example, a fence, or the mid-point of a hedge) to the edge of the cropped area, an applicant will, as in previous years, be able to claim under AAPS for the total OS area of the field. Should a field margin exceed the two metre threshold, the applicant will instead need to claim on the actual cropped area (i.e. the OS measured area minus the total uncropped area around the field margin). We are concerned that this clarification of the AAPS rules might be detrimental to wildlife, and we are currently analysing what effect it might have and evaluating the options for minimising any problems which may arise. Moreover, MAFF's guidance urges farmers that, if they need to adjust the width of a field margin, they should seek advice on minimising the environmental impact of any such change.

Arable Area Payments Scheme: Field Margin Measurement

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What discussions have been held with English Nature, and similar statutory environmental organisations, on the environmental effects of changing the rules on the maximum width of field margins allowed under the Arable Area Payments Scheme (AAPS) of the European Commission Integrated Administration and Control System (IACS).

Baroness Hayman: Ministry officials met English Nature and the Countryside Agency on 19 October 1999 to discuss the environmental implications of the latest guidance on field margins applying in the context of the Arable Area Payments Scheme. It is hoped that a further meeting with English Nature will be held shortly. The topic has also been raised at various meetings with environmental organisations attended by MAFF Regional Directors and other officials.

Hedgerows

Lord Hardy of Wath: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will now take action to prevent or discourage the destruction of hedgerows by those who may consider this to be desirable or necessary in order to comply with the policies or arrangements of the European Union.

Baroness Hayman: Under the Hedgerows Regulations 1997, it is against the law to remove most countryside hedges without first notifying the local planning authority. If the hedgerow qualifies as important, the authority may prohibit its removal. Guidance has been given to farmers encouraging them to seek advice about minimising the environmental impact of any action they may propose taking to adjust the width of a hedge or other field margin in order to be able to continue claiming arable area payments on the full area of their fields.

GM Crops: Separation Distances

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will incorporate the study undertaken by the National Pollen Research Unit for the Soil Association into their recommendations on the distances that pollen from genetically modified plants can travel.

Baroness Hayman: Separation distances between GM and other crops have been set out by the industry group SCIMAC in the light of scientific knowledge and long-standing experience in maintaining the purity of certified seed. The report from the National Pollen Research Unit confirms existing knowledge about the distances which pollen can travel. However the findings are relevant to the dialogue between the GM and organic sectors which MAFF has promoted, and we have asked SCIMAC to take them into account in reviewing separation distances.

Over Thirty Month Scheme Abattoirs

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether, as reported in the Farmers Guardian on 7 January, the Intervention Board broke its own rules when it chose the abattoirs which would service the Over Thirty Month Scheme.

Baroness Hayman: The Intervention Board followed its established procedures in awarding slaughtering contracts for the provision of the Over Thirty Month Scheme (OTMS) and in carrying out the tender process fairly. The bids received for the work were evaluated against published objective criteria, including quality of service, price, ability to offer a dedicated service, ease of supervision, throughput and location.

GM Plants and UK National List of Varieties

Lord Beaumont of Whitley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will provide details of when, to their knowledge, seeds of a genetically modified plant variety have been marketed, sold or otherwise supplied under arrangements specified in Regulation 31 of the Seeds (National Lists of Varieties) Regulations 1982.

Baroness Hayman: Regulation 31 of the Seeds (National Lists of Varieties) Regulations 1982 (as amended) requires that, except as provided for in Regulation 32, seed of agricultural and vegetable varieties shall not be marketed unless the variety in question is on a National List or a EC Common Catalogue. GM plant varieties may be entered on the UK National List only if a marketing consent has been promulgated under Directive 90/220/EEC on the Deliberate Release into the Environment of Genetically Modified Organisms and an authorisation has been issued, where appropriate, under the Novel Food Regulations.
	There are no GM plant varieties on the UK National List and no marketing has, therefore, taken place from that source. Two GM chicory varieties (FIRESTONE and SAM) were added to the EC Vegetable Common Catalogue on 15 June 1999 under marketing consent reference C/NL/94/25, which restricts marketing to plant breeding activities and excludes their use for human or animal feed. There is no requirement under that consent to notify member states of such marketing activity.

Pet Travel Scheme

Lord Hoyle: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	In connection with the pet travel scheme, when a system of documents will be put in place for French residents bringing pets to this country in relation to rabies; and
	When under the pet travel scheme veterinary surgeons in France will receive documents relating to certification that ticking and worming have been carried out; and
	What information has been supplied to French veterinary surgeons about the pet pilot travel scheme; and
	Whether the discussions with the French Government regarding arrangements for the surveillance of carrier activities participating in the pet pilot passport travel scheme have been finalised.

Baroness Hayman: We have provided the French veterinary authorities with details of the pilot Pet Travel Scheme, which we have asked them to pass on to veterinary surgeons in France. The French Government has sent us copies of a rabies certificate for use by French residents wishing to take part in the Pet Travel Scheme, and a tick and tapeworm treatment certificate. Their printing and distribution to veterinary surgeons in France is a matter for the French Government. Discussions with the French authorities on the surveillance of carrier activities in relation to the scheme are continuing.

Agricultural Community: EU Obligations

Lord Inglewood: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How they are honouring their obligation under EC Treaty Article 33(1)(b).

Baroness Hayman: Article 33 of the Treaty of Rome sets out the five objectives of the common agricultural policy, of which ensuring a fair standard of living for the agricultural community is one. Responsiblity rests with the European Commission to propose legislation and with the Council of Ministers, and in some cases the European Commission, to adopt legislation to meet the objectives in the Treaty.

Cattle TB: Report

Lord Dubs: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When the Independent Scientific Group on Cattle Tuberculosis will publish its second report.

Baroness Hayman: We are pleased to tell the House that the second report by the Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB is published today. The report sets out progress made so far on the wide-ranging research measures being taken to combat cattle TB as well as plans for work to be undertaken in the future. Copies have been placed in the Library of the House.

Floods: Environment Agency Action Plan

Lord Dubs: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What progress the Environment Agency has made in implementing its action plan in response to the independent report on the Easter 1998 floods.

Baroness Hayman: While there were no further specific actions timed for completion by the end December 1999, the Environment Agency has nevertheless kept the Ministry informed of progress up to that date.
	For flood forecasting, all the Environment Agency's regions are working on delivering the first phase of their hydrometric monitoring network improvement programmes by April 2000.
	The work relating to flood warning is progressing well. The National Flood Warning Centre is established and the necessary relationships with other national bodies are being actively developed.
	Flood risk maps have been produced and were disseminated to local planning authorities and emergency planners in September 1999. The agency is using the maps to identify high-risk properties on a consistent basis to aid targeting of direct warnings and public awareness material. Local authorities are using the maps for both development control and emergency planning purposes. The information in the maps will be made publicly available so that people can make informed decisions about flood risks.
	The agency has further improved liaison arrangements with local authorities and emergency services at both local and national level to ensure effective response to flooding incidents.
	A flood warning public awareness campaign commenced in October. Plans are being developed for revised flood warning codes to be introduced in September 2000, with appropriate publicity.
	Visual inspection of all flood defences continues against a deadline of April 2000. The agency has set up meetings to resolve isolated problems where local authorities have not always been able to identify the location of defences on ordinary watercourses.
	The agency continues its work in implementing the recommendations in the independent report on its management and skills.
	We are pleased to note the agency's continuing progress in implementing the Easter Floods report, contributing to achievement of the ministerial priority of a seamless and integrated service of flood forecasting, warning and response.
	We shall ensure that the House is updated on progress in implementing the final phases of the action plan, including the introduction of new flood warning codes in September 2000.

Agriculture Development Scheme Grants

Lord Hardy of Wath: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What grants have been offered under the Agriculture Development Scheme.

Baroness Hayman: We are pleased that offers of some £2 million in marketing grants have been made under the Agriculture Development Scheme. Around 35 per cent of the money will benefit the pig sector directly and some of the other projects directed at the livestock sector will also help pig producers. Overall, we are assisting a wide range of sectors and regions. The following organisations have been offered grant aid:
	
		
			 Sector Lead organisation Project 
			 Pigs Assured British Meat National assurance database information and administration system (pigs module) 
			 Pigs Assured British Meat ABM Assured Britsh Pigs Scheme data merger 
			 Pigs BOCM Pauls Ltd Maximising pig carcass value 
			 Pigs/organic Eastbrook Farm Organic Meats Ltd Growing the organic pigmeat market from a UK production base 
			 Pigs Food Trak plc Traceability in the pig meat supply chain 
			 Pigs JSR Farms Ltd Integrated pig meat supply initiative 
			 Pigs Ladies In Pigs A catering college's initiative to secure the future for British pigmeat in catering 
			 Pigs Meat & Livestock Commission Project 2: improving supply chain communications 
			 Pigs National Pig Association A risk management initiative for the UK pig industry 
			 Pigs United Pig Marketing A shared IT and information system for UPM and its supply chain partners 
			 Pigs University of Aberdeen A training package for the British pig industry using multi-media technology 
			 Beef Glendale Beef Producers Glendale Beef Producers initiative 
			 Beef/dairy Warwickshire Quality Calves Improving the value of beef calves from the dairy herd 
			 Dairy National Milk Records plc Proposal for a south-west dairy information network 
			 Dairy/organic Organic Milk Suppliers Co-operative Design and initial implementation of a novel technology transfer and quality management system on organic dairy farms 
			 Dairy/specialty Business Link Bradford & District Feasibility study into potential for a yoghurt production facility for the Asian community 
			 Eggs British Free Range Egg Producers Association British Free Range Egg Marketing Company Ltd 
			 Sheep British Sheep Dairying Association Implementation of structural development of the sheep dairy sector 
			 Sheep/speciality Business Link Bradford & District New routes to new markets--investigation into ways of making better use of sheepmeat products to the benefit of producers 
			 Wild boar The British Wild Boar Association To improve collaborative marketing activity between primary and secondary producers of British farmed wild boar 
			  
			 Livestock general Assured British Meat Multiple retail caterers--food safety assurance module 
			 Livestock general Assured British Meat Assurance chain--focus farms 
			 Livestock general/ regional/ speciality Assured British Meat Assurance and food heritage 
			 Livestock general Farmway Ltd Marketing co-operatively produced branded pork, beef and lamb through "Farmway" co-operative stores: a feasibility study 
			 Livestock general Harper Adams University College Building regional enterprise and agricultural competitiveness though IT (Breakthrough-IT) 
			 Livestock general Meadow Valley Livestock Ltd Improving farmers' efficiency and returns by directing them to market-led, added value marketing schemes 
			 Livestock general South East Primestock Producers (SEPP) Ltd A plan for regional growth and farmer 
			 Livestock general/ organic/ speciality Humane Slaughter Association Mobile slaughter unit 2000 
			 Nursery stock Horticultural Trades Association A project to influence structural change in the landscape supply chain to build value in the soft landscape market 
			 Nursery stock Horticultural Trades Association A project to extend the HTA nursery certification scheme to include the inspection and supply of local provenance 
			 Nursery stock Horticultural Trades Association A project to develop a greater understanding of the supply chain within the nurserystock sector 
			 Onions British Onion Producers Organisation Sector analysis of the onion market 
			 Potatoes Hereward Growers Collaborative marketing initiative 
			 Soft fruit Advanced Marketing Services Ltd Soft fruit development for category management 
			 Soft fruit The Berryworld Producers' Organisation Ltd Development of an intergrated traceability system for the soft fruit industry 
			 Tomatoes Tomato Growers Association Investigation into the development of an integrated quality management system for the British tomato industry 
			 Top fruit Fruition Group Ltd Rationalisation: the basis of a full category player 
			 Horticulture general Checkmate International Benchmarking services for the EUREP GAP framework 
			 Horticulture general Institute of Grocery Distribution Benchmarking the industry 
			 Combinable crops Samuel Rose Ltd Promoting vertical intergration through farmer collaboration in agricultural supply chains 
			 Combinable crops United Grain Producers "The Marlborough Group" (working together to improve farm incomes) 
			 Farmers' markets National Association of Farmers Markets Together to market 
			 Direct selling Farm Retail Association Red and green box scheme feasibility study 
			 Viticulture The Magpie Consultancy Formation of a collaborative marketing company owned by producers and devoted to the marketing development of the wines & vineyards of England 
			 Trout Longford Estate Co-ordinated approach to trout marketing 
			 General Plunkett Foundation Increasing competitiveness in the farmer controlled business sector through the use of best practice benchmarking 
			 General Lantra Increasing the competitiveness of the land based sector